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Note: ‘Swaaha’ is used for Homams
and ‘Namahaa’ is used for general prayers
SIGNIFICANCE OF MOTHER VAARAHI
Vaarahi is one of the Saivite Shakti deities with the
group of goddesses known as Saptamatrukas or the "Seven
Mothers". The seven mothers are: Brahmi, Maheshvari,
Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Vaarahi, Mahendri and Chamundi. They
are the Shakti (female) equivalents of their male
counterparts.
Vaarahi is the Shakti of the
Vishnu Avatar Varaha.
• Created from the boar avatara of Vishnu, Vaarahi is
often associated with Goddess Kamala (one of the
Mahavidyas).
• She is also called the Danda-natha (Lady commander of
the forces of the Mother-Goddess, symbolizing the might
of SriVidya).
• As Vaarahi ("boar-faced' or 'the great consumer') she
destroys evil forces that obstructs the devotees'
progress, paralyses the enemies, and lead the devotees
ultimately to Sri-Vidyas.
• She is classed as the fifth among the seven
"mother-like" divinities (Saptamatrukas and hence also
called Panchami).
• With Kurukulla, she is accorded the parental status to
Sri-Chakra (Lalita Tripura-Sundari). While Kurukulla
represents the full moon, Vaarahi represents the
new-moon. And while Vaarahi represents the illumination
(prakasa) aspects of the mother-goddess, Kurukulla is
the "deliberation" (vimarsa) aspect.
• In another aspect, Vaarahi is also said to be one of
the Yoginis, taking the form of a boar. She is said to
lift up the earth with her tusks to confer benefits on
all creatures.
• In relation to Buddhism, especially Tibetan Buddhism,
Vaarahi is one of the Dakshinis (an enlightened
compassionate spirit embodied in a female form). She is
the protector, the concealer and the one who recovers
spiritual communication, texts and other sacred objects
• In Devi Mahatmyam and Devi-bhagavata purana, Vaarahi
(as with all the other Saptamatrkas) is not primarily
represented as the divine consort or Shakti of the male
deity but rather as an extension or form of Devi
Herself. Sometimes Vaarahi is associated with Goddess
Kamala (one of the Maha-Vidyas ) and Vaishnavi.
STORY OF THE BOAR
Hiranyaksha ( the golden_eyed demon) received a boon
from Brahma after he practiced severe austerities in his
devotion to Him. He asked to become king of the whole
world, and that no human or animal which he mentioned by
name should ever have the power to harm him. He
enumerated all the animals but forgot to mention the
boar. Hiranyaksha wreaked havoc, plundering everything
of value from the creatures of the world, including the
Hindu scriptures. He even took the earth down into the
ocean as a hostage.
Vishnu assumed the boar form and plunged into the depths
of the primeval ocean to rescue Earth. It took him one
thousand years to kill Hiranyaksha and to lift the earth
up with his great white tusks. He calmed it, and made it
ready for human use by molding its mountains and
continents.
SYMBOLISM OF VAARAHI
The myth of of the boar is not just confined to Hindu
Mythology. It is in the Celtic, Japanese, Chinese,
Greek, American Indian and Egyptian cultures as well.
Goddess Ceridwin, a Celtic Mother Goddess was also
called the "old White Sow". The Boar too is a sacred
animal of Goddess Isis ( the Egyptian equivalent of
Durga ) and her brother is a black boar ( called Seth ).
Emotional and Physchological
Symbolism
1. In the Celtic and Welsh version, the boar represents
courage and strong warriors.
2. In China, the boar represents the wealth of the
forest.
3. In Japan, the boar depicts courage.
4. To the Buddhist, the boar represents attachment
(general and material), greed
and lust.
In association with the Saptamatrkas, Vaarahi Panchami
can be said to be the representation of the controlled
energy of courage and fearlessness that has gone out of
control in us which causes envy and greed and leads to
attachment (material and general).
BENEFITS OF VAARAHI POOJA AND
HOMA
Mother Vaarahi protects all devotees who turn to Her for
Her grace and blessings. She is an extremely powerful
Goddess and bestows the following on those who worship
Her with sincerity and devotion.
• Eliminates the “evil eye” (also known as Drushti in
Tamil and Nazar in Hindi)
• Wards off troubles from evil spirits
• Wards off any kind of evil deeds or rituals (black
magic) aimed at Her devotee
• Protects the person from accidents
• Makes the person blessed with word power, fame, good
will etc.
• She dispels fear and bestows courage and confidence
• Bestows wealth and an exalted status in society
• Supreme victory over enemies and all those who stand
in the way of one’s progress
• Dispels disease and ill health
• Grants happiness and prosperity
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